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GUELPH 101 | S EP T 202 1
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Eight tips for managing online group work Make working as part of a team a beneficial experience for all CHEN CHEN
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ollaborating on group projects can be challenging. Below are some tips to help you navigate the world of online group work.
Succeed in group work by breaking the project into workable chunks and setting a timeline for each member. CREDIT: UNSPLASH
REVIEW THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND PROJECT DEADLINES
BREAK THE PROJECT INTO WORKABLE CHUNKS Approaching the project can be difficult when you do not know where to start. Therefore, one of the most important steps in group projects is to identify its components, so that they can be divided among group members into understandable, workable steps. You can use the following questions to help you divide the tasks:
GET TO KNOW YOUR TEAM MEMBERS EARLY
• • • It is important to get to know your team members as early as possible. A short introduction to the team is a great way to get the conversation flowing and to learn a little bit about your team members. You can introduce yourself by giving your name, program of study, and any facts that they may need to know about working with you. For example, you can let your team know your time zone or your availability for group meetings. Try to introduce yourself within the first two weeks of class. You can book an online meeting for the team and use some icebreakers to help start the conversation.
After all the team members are settled into the platform, it can be useful for the team to review the project description together. This helps bring the team members on the same page. You can go over what the project is about, the deadlines, and the assessment criteria in the meeting. You can also upload a copy of the project to the platform so the team can review the project details when they need to.
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What are the major components of the project? What are the necessary steps we need to take to complete each component? How long is it going to take to finish each step? What resources are required to complete the project?
Dividing the project into components can make it more manageable and give the team a clearer sense of what needs to be done.
SET UP A GROUP CONTRACT SET A TIMELINE
DECIDE ON A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNICATION
During the introduction phase, the team should come together to decide on a platform for communication. This will be where you and your team are going to communicate and share information. For example, you may decide to use email, create a messenger group, or use other platforms. It is important to decide on a social media platform so the team has a consistent way of sharing information. I found Microsoft Teams the easiest platform for online collaboration. In MS Teams, you can easily create teams or channels for your project, and you can share and edit documents online. Additionally, all U of G students have access to MS Teams for free.
If group member responsibilities are not clearly defined it is easy to lose track of who is doing what and for members to feel inclined to slack on the project. Therefore a group contract outlining everyone’s responsibilities can help to clarify the team members’ roles and keep each person accountable. The members can also decide in writing the frequency of group meetings or modes of communication. Sometimes instructors will provide a template group contract for the class. Otherwise, you can find examples of group contracts online.
REFLECT ON THE TEAM PROCESS AND CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS
It is important to schedule the project so that you can monitor the progress and make sure to submit the final work on time. I find it helpful to divide the project into different phases such as planning, implementation, and closing. During the planning phase, the team will research the project and map out the timelines and to-dos. During the implementation phase, team members work on the assignments individually or collaboratively. During the closing phase, team members will come together to edit the final document and submit the project.
After editing, your group project is finally ready to go. Besides celebrating the successful group collaboration, it is also important for the team to reflect on the group process: • What worked in the process? • What did not work and why? • What improvements can be made to the process? Reflecting on the group process can help you work more efficiently in future team settings. There are many ways that you can facilitate the reflection. You can create a survey for team members to provide comments or you can book an online meeting for a real-time project debrief. Group work can be one of the most challenging — yet also one of the most rewarding — experiences you can have during your time at university. You can learn many skills by participating in group projects, such as problem-solving, communication, time management, and leadership.
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